CS35491A3 - Dispenser for liquids - Google Patents

Description

MP - 84-91 - Če Liquid Container

Technical field

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to a fluid container comprising a collapsible fluid chamber, in particular viscous fluids. The fluid chamber comprises at least one resilient portion and an orifice sealed to the dispenser for dispensing fluid from said chamber.

Background Art

Viscous fluids, such as liquid detergents, are often packaged in flexible bags provided with a fluid dispensing valve such that the bag collapses and its volume decreases, as described, for example, in GB-A-2,131,394 and These containers must be placed on a vertical surface, such as a wall, etc., with the valve positioned underneath, so that the fluid flows from the bag to the valve by gravity.

This drawback does not have the solution according to DE-A1-2 628 979 proposing the use of a pressure bag mounted inside the housing. However, the pressure bags themselves are relatively complicated and there is a need for a propellant that must not affect the fluid or consumer.

For example, GB-A-654,113 solves a liquid soap container that is rotatably mounted so that the soap can flow through the opening when the container is rotated. However, it is necessary for the air to enter through the other orifice, which has the advantage that microorganisms and other substances may enter at the same time. - 2 -

US-A-33398O3 and US-A-4826045 disclose fluid containers containing a diaphragm for extrusion of fluid when exerted by external pressure. The diaphragm is provided with reinforcing rings and a stabilizing pin to prevent collapsing and thereby obstructing the discharge opening. These containers are compressed and a pressurized medium is required to dispense fluid.

This is a common requirement for containers for particularly viscous fluids, particularly liquid detergents, where the fluid can be dispensed without the risk of entering any foreign matter or biological organisms into the container. The container should also be easy to manufacture, easy to handle, and well positioned for aesthetic appeal.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

These requirements are met by the fluid container of the present invention that it comprises a collapsible liquid chamber consisting of at least one resilient portion and an opening sealed attached to a dispensing device capable of generating a vacuum to aspirate fluid from the chamber while the chamber is collapsed.

In a preferred embodiment, protrusions extending close to the aperture are provided in the fluid chamber, preferably around the aperture edge, to prevent any portion of said resilient portion from forming an obstruction in the aperture, thereby preventing the resulting liquid pockets from coming into contact with the aperture. Advantageously, the fluid chamber, when full, is substantially spherical, which means maximum material saving and maximum strength. The resilient portion must form at least half of the chamber to provide substantially complete emptying of the contents.

According to another preferred embodiment, substantially the entire fluid chamber is flexible. From a manufacturing standpoint, it is particularly advantageous that the chamber is made of two substantially equally large resilient films attached to each other at their edges, for example by welding or gluing. One of the foils is provided with a hole, preferably in its central part. By being comoracular, the aperture will form one of the poles, while the joint between the films, such as a weld seam, will form an equator. The container provided with the collapsible chamber is, as has already been mentioned, sealed to the dispensing device, but is preferably also formed by a rigid body in which the collapsible chamber is fixed. Preferably, the body is assembled from a wall of shells, i.e. from a front shell provided with a dispenser device opening and the back shell. Advantageously, the front shell has a notch extending from its edge to the aperture for the dispensing device, which may extend to facilitate mounting of the front shell to the fluid chamber.

The shells are detachably connected to form a closed but not gas-tight, preferably spherical, fluid chamber. The shells are connected to each other by a suitable fast-lock, such as a bayonet closure, but different types of screw connections may be used. To allow the volume of the fluid chamber to be reduced during emptying, air must be admitted into the space above, either by joining or opening. In another embodiment, the fluid chamber is formed by a front shell and a flexible film attached thereto, for example by welding. The front shell is provided with an opening sealed attached to the dispensing device. Preferably, the front shell and the flexible film form substantially the same portion of the chamber. The front shell may be attached to the rear shell as in the embodiment described above. - 4?. v. In all embodiments with a rigid body, the container may be mounted, preferably with its rear shell, on a holder including means for attaching the holder to a surface. These compositions may comprise an adhesive material such as an adhesive, but it is preferred that the holder is detachably attached to the surface, for example, by means of a cup-shaped suction cup. In a preferred embodiment, the holder comprises a ring provided with a through hole which coaxially co-operates with a projection provided on the central portion of the cup suction cup and provided with a through hole. The axes of the holes in the ring in the protrusion are parallel.

It is particularly advantageous if the through holes are arranged such that the central portion of the cup-shaped suction cup is raised when it is plugged or wedged into these holes, thereby increasing the vacuum in the cup suction cup and thereby also the force of adhesion. The ring then has to have an inner diameter smaller than the outer diameter of the cup-shaped suction cup so that its edge portion is pressed against the fastening surface. This can be easily attached to all flat surfaces such as a washbasin or wall.

According to a further embodiment, the outer side of the body is provided with one or more flat surfaces, so that it can then be solidly supported on horizontal surfaces such as a washbasin or shelf. It is also possible to provide one or more flat flat adhesive materials.

Any dispensing device may be used to aspirate fluid from the chamber and dispense it. A suitable dispensing device is described in our co-pending patent application PV with priority from Swedish applications 9000568-7 and 9-2753-3. This dispensing device comprises a pump, preferably in the form of a mechanically operated dome portion, which creates a vacuum for suction of fluid from the chamber and an overpressure for the outlet through the fluid channel connected to the pump, and a non-return valve to prevent backflow of fluid into the chamber. - 5 -

The channel has an inlet and an outlet end and an axial flow direction of the fluid and a means provided at the outlet end for opening it at a certain internal pressure and for closing it when the pressure stops working. Advantageously, the channel is formed by a main part of a rigid material in the form of a trough-shaped cross-section of a substantially arcuate sector and a covering part of a resilient material. The lateral edges of the downstream cover portion are sealed attached to the main portion and gradually adjust towards the outlet end of the tray shape.

The cover portion is biased and thereby presses a certain pressure in the region of the exit end of the channel close to the channel wall. Preferably, the thickness of the cover portion towards the edges increases, seen in cross section transverse to the flow direction. The trough is suitably shaped such that essentially it is part of the arc of the imaginary sector of the arcs between an angular range of between 5 and 40 °, preferably between 20 and 40 °.

The rigid and rigid portions of the container may be made by injection of polyethylene or polypropylene, while the resilient films may be a vacuum-formed laminate comprising a layer of polyethylene or polypropylene and a layer of polyamide or polyester. The resilient portions of the dispensing device, i.e., the copulate portion and the cover portion, may be made of vacuum-formed thermoplastic polyethylene. All permanent

they can be made by welding or gluing. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that other manufacturing methods and other construction materials with suitable properties may be used. The container of the invention has all the advantages of a collapsible bag because it is easy to manufacture and use and can be emptied without the ingress of any foreign matter or organisms. In contrast to known containers of this type, it can be placed through an aperture for dispensing its contents in any direction up and down. It can be fixed, either detachably or permanently on both vertical and horizontal surfaces, or laid directly on a horizontal surface without attachment, allowing for a high container capacity for each location. It also has an aesthetic impression with its pure exterior. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 shows a section through an empty fluid chamber, Fig. 2 a cross-section through a full chamber, Figs. 3 and 4 a front elevation and a plan view of a front shell, Figs. Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a container-filled chamber mounted in a body; Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view of a container of another embodiment; Figs. 9-11 illustrate step-by-step how the back shell is attached to the mounting surface; Figs. 13a and 13b show elevation views of preferred embodiments of the dispensing device and Figs. 14a and 14b are sectional views of the X-I of Figs. 13a and 13b. However, the invention is not limited to the embodiments but to the embodiments defined in the claims. EXAMPLES OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows an empty liquid chamber 21 formed by a flexible foil 43 provided with an opening 25 to which the end of the tube 42 is attached, preferably by welding. The mouth end of the tube 42 is provided with protrusions 27 extending into the fluid chamber 21 around the opening 25. The film 43 is connected, preferably welded, to the same sized flexible film 24 and forms a solid together.

FIG. 2 shows a spherical chamber 21 filled with a fluid, for example a liquid detergent, on which the connection 41 between the two spring foils 24, 43 forms an equator of the ball thus formed. A preferred method for producing the fluid chamber 21 of Figures 1 and 2 comprises forming two continuous foils, punching the holes 25 at predetermined distances on one of the foils, and attaching the end of the pipe 42 to each bore 25 of both joining the two the film is a circular connection 41 and finally the cutting of each chamber 21. The joining and cutting is preferably carried out in a hemispherical mold in which the film-shrinks and forms an empty chamber 21 shown in Figure 1. Each chamber 21 can be filled with a pipe 42 before by installing the dispensing device 26.

FIG. Figures 3 and 4 show a front shell 22 having an aperture 50 for the dispensing device 26 and a cutout 51 extending from the aperture 50 to the edge. The slit 51 can be expanded or expanded to facilitate mounting of the front shell 22 to the fluid chamber 21 with the dispensing device 26. Furthermore, the front shell 22 is provided with symmetrically located closure means 52 of any design, e.g., L-shaped protrusions.

FIG. Figures 5 and 6 show the hemisphere rear shell 23 provided with closing means 53 which engage the closing means 52 on the front shell 22. Since the closing means 52, 53 are disposed symmetrically about the edges of the shells 22, 23, they can be assembled in as many different intersections. positions relative to each other, how many closing means 52, 53 are on each shell,

FIG. 7 shows a container formed by a chamber 21 for a fluid fixed in a ball body consisting of a front shell 22 and a rear shell 23 connected detachably and enclosing a fluid chamber 21 thereto. The metering device 26 comprises a connecting pipe channel 8 fixed in the pipe 42 to be sealed to the opening 25 to be sealed. The chamber 21 is filled with liquid and thus occupies substantially the entire spherical space between the pins 22, 23.

When the fluid is pumped out, the chamber 21 is subjected to atmospheric air through the connection between the shells 22, 23a filling the expanding empty space that is formed in the body. The protrusions extending into the chamber 21 prevent the formation of any obstruction in the opening 25 and thus allow substantially complete emptying of the chamber 21.

FIG. 8 shows a further embodiment of the container according to the invention. The container comprises a body of two equally sized, detachably assembled shells 22, 23 from the front shell 22 and the rear shell 23 forming a closed spherical space enclosing the resilient film 24. This film 24 forms together with the front shell 22 the fluid chamber 21. A suction device 26 capable of generating a vacuum is sealed to the opening 25 provided in the front shell 22. The rear shell 23 may be the same as described above.

When the chamber 21 is filled, it occupies substantially the entire cone space. When the liquid is pumped out, the boron chamber 21 and the foil 24 approach the inner side of the front shell 22. The reduction in the volume of the chamber 21 is compensated by the air entering the spherical space through the connection between the shells 22 and 23. When the chamber 21 is emptied, the foil sits tightly against the front shell 22. The dispensing device 26 comprises a connecting tube channel 8 mounted in the front shell 42, The projection 27 is provided with a notch allowing fluid to enter even when the film 24 already touches the mouth of the connecting pipe channel 8. In both embodiments of FIGS. the ring 29 and the sleeve 31 are provided with through holes 30, 36. The holder 28 also includes a cup-shaped suction cup 32, the central portion of which is provided with a protruding pin 33 with a through hole 34. 30, 36 have axes parallel to the axis of the opening 34. Internal diam the ring measure 29 is slightly smaller than the outside diameter of the cup-shaped suction cup 32, so that it rests on the edge portion of the cup-shaped suction cup 32. The through holes 30, 34 are arranged so that the central cup-shaped suction cup 32 rises when a pin or wedge passes through it 35., preferably with a pointed front, for releasably attaching the container.

FIG. 9 to 11 show, step by step, how the rear shell 23 is attached to a flat mounting surface. First, the semiconductor suction cup 32 is pressed against the surface, whereupon the rear shell 23 is placed on it and pressed so that the protruding pin 33 of the suction cup 32 is inserted into the sleeve 31 and the ring 29 holds the edge of the cup suction cup 32 in place. The through hole 34v of the pin 33 will then be at a level slightly below the holes 30, 36 in the annular 29 and the sleeve 31. When the pin or wedge 35 is then pushed through all the holes 30, 34, 36 and the axes of the holes 30, 34 do not match the axis 36, the central portion of the cup-shaped suction cup 32 is slightly lifted upwards, the axis of the hole 36 being aligned with the axes of the holes 30 and 34. As a result of this operation, the vacuum in the cup-shaped receptacle 32 is increased, so that the force that could allow the suction cup 32 to disengage. areas would also have to be larger. Thus, when the back shell 23, as in Fig. 11, is attached to the mounting surface, the front shell 22 with the fluid filled liquid 21 can be fitted and secured. Then, when the container is to be removed from the mounting surface, the wedge 35 is ejected, thereby causing the bowl to eject. Avka k '(I' ', γΐ {, v ί ί í í í í í í í í í í 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10..............................)

FIG. 12 illustrates an embodiment where the rear shell has a truncated pyramid-shaped side. In this way, five flat surfaces 40 are provided on the exterior of the rear shell 23, each of which can be applied to a flat mounting surface. When the rear shell 23 is made heavy enough, the container will stand well on any flat surface 40 thereof.

One or more flat surfaces 40 may be provided with an adhesive layer.

FIG. Figures 13a to 14b illustrate a preferred dispensing device 26 comprising a pump 11 and a valve 2. The pump 7 is a mechanically operated dome portion 2 of resilient material 4 and a solid material body 4. The dome part 2 is sealed to the body 4 by a mounting flange 2 inserted into the groove 6 in the body 4, wherein the dome part 2 and the body 4 form a chamber 7 whose volume is mechanically influenced by the dome part 30 shown in Figures 13b and 14b. The dome is preferably square in shape to facilitate its deformation.

A tubular channel 8 joining the liquid chamber 21 according to the invention opens into the body 4. The mouth 8a of the tubular duct 8 forms, together with the tongue 3a extending from the dome portion 2, a return valve preventing backflow of fluid from the chamber 7 through the duct 8 into the container chamber 21.

The valve 2 is formed by a channel 9 with an inlet end 9a in the opening of the chamber 7 and an outlet end 9b and an axial flow flow 10.

Channel 2 is formed by a main portion 11 of rigid material acrylic portion 12 of flexible material. In the embodiment shown in the figures, the main portion 11 is integrally formed with the housing 4a and the cover portion 11 is integrally formed with the dome portion 2. The main portion 11 is formed by a trough 11, in an arc-shaped 11-shape, which is an imaginary sector of a circle with a span of about 30 degrees. Like the dome portion 3, the cover portion 12 is sealed attached to the main portion 11 by flange-like protrusions 14 provided at the edges of the cover portion 12 in the flow direction 10 of the fluid and extending into corresponding grooves 15 in the main portion 11.

Towards the exit end 9b, the cover portion 12 gradually adapts to the shape of the tray 13 and is pressed in one region of close contact with the tray wall 3. This sealing contact is enhanced by the combination of the concave shape of the cover portion 12 and its attachment to the main portion 11 and the fact that the thickness of the cover portion 12 is smaller in the center than at its edges, as shown in Figs. 13a and 13b. From the vessel described above, the fluid is pumped in the following manner. It is believed that chamber 7 is filled with fluid from the chamber 21 of the invention. 13b and 14b, by pressing, for example with a finger, an overpressure is generated in the fluid. This overpressure is transmitted through the channel 6 to the cover portion 12 which detaches into a locally convex / convex shape. where it touches the trough wall 13 as shown in FIG. 13b. This instantaneous formation of the convex shape is facilitated by the distribution of the thickness of the cover portion 12, thereby providing an opening 17 through which the metered fluid passes. Thereafter, the pressure of the chamber 6 and the channel 9 is equalized and the dosing is interrupted.

Due to the change in shape of the cover portion 12, which is either convex or concave, the difference can be clearly distinguished by opening and closing the valve 2. After closing the valve 2, the fluid is prevented from remaining between the cover portion 12 and the loft 13, thereby contributing to the formation of an aseptic closing. - 12 -

As long as the overpressure prevails, valve 2 is automatically closed by a valve formed by mouth 8a and tongue 3a, thereby preventing backflow of fluid into chamber 21. When the mechanical action on the dome part 3 ceases, this part 3 takes its original shape, thereby creating a vacuum, and the fluid is again fed into the chamber 7 from the chamber 21 through the duct 8, thereby reducing the volume of the chamber 21 while collapsing. whereby air penetrates into the spherical space through the connection between the shells 22, 23. When the entire contents of the chamber 21 are drained, the empty chamber 21 with the dispensing device is exchanged *

Claims (10)

- 13 - L '*; Λΐ Λϋ £ · χ ν. r -ί> z σ σ. ν · /. IN THE PATENT NAROKT A fluid container comprising a collapsible fluid chamber (21) comprising at least one resilient portion (24) and an opening (25) sealed to a dispensing device (26) capable of generating a vacuum to aspirate fluid from the chamber (21) for dispensing it while simultaneously shaking the chamber (21) onto the fluid. 2. A container according to claim 1, wherein protrusions (27) extending into the fluid chamber (21) are provided in the opening (25) to prevent the formation of an obstacle in the opening (25) by any portion of the resilient portion (24). / chambers (21) for fluid. 3. A container according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it comprises a rigid body (22, 23) in which a collapsible liquid chamber (21) is fixed. 4. Container according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the body consists of a front shell (22) provided with an opening (50) for the dispensing device (26) and the rear shells (23), wherein both shells (22, 23) are provided. they are detachably connected to form a closed, but not gas-tight, fluid-closing chamber (21). ;;; - 1? 3 ·> 5. Container according to claim 4, characterized in that the front shell (22) is provided with a notch (51) extending from its edge to the opening (50) for the dispensing device (26). 6. A container according to any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein the substantially entire fluid chamber (21) is resilient. 7. A container according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the fluid chamber (21) is formed by a front shell (22) and a resilient film (24), wherein the anterior chamber (22) is provided with an opening (25). sealed to the associated dispensing device (26). A container according to any one of claims 3 to 7, characterized in that it comprises a holder formed by a cup-shaped sachet (32) intended to be detachably attached to the surface and whose central part is provided with a protrusion (33) with a passageway (34), and a ring (29) provided with a through hole (30) having an inner diameter smaller than the outside diameter of the cup-shaped suction cup and having a protruding means (31) with a through-hole (36) coaxially cooperating with the cup (33) provided on the cup-shaped suction cup (32), with the apertures (30, 36) and the aperture (34) in the protrusion (33) being parallel and said apertures (30, 34, 36) being intended to receive the pin or wedge (35) therein, sliding the pin or wedge wedge / is the center portion of the cup-shaped suction cup (32) lifted. - 15 9. A container according to any one of claims 3 to 7 wherein the outer side of the body is provided with one or more flat surfaces (40). 10. A container according to any one of claims 1 to 9 wherein the dispensing device (26) comprises a pump (1) capable of generating a vacuum to draw fluid from the fluid chamber (21) and an overpressure to dispense liquid. -through the channel (9) connected to the pump (1), and the return valve (8a, 3a) to prevent backflow of fluid into the chamber (21), and that channel (9) my inlet and outlet ends (9a, 9b) / aaxial fluid flow direction (10) wherein means (12, 13) are provided at the outlet end (9b) for opening at a certain internal overpressure and for closing when the overpressure is no longer present.